Target apparatus



y 1958 J. J. WEINBLATT 2,834,598

TARGET APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1956 a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

e Maw/45% United States Patent The invention relates to target apparatus and more particularly to improvements in a rugged target apparatus that. is compactly arranged and structurally designed to provide accurate visual indicating means for scoring the aim of the operator.

The apparatus is more particularly characterized by the provision of a shallow hollow base structure mounting a target rifle or like aiming device which is mechanically connected with novel mechanism within the base that is operated upon firing of the rifle and is aimed in accordance with aiming of the rifle so as to cause a target, also mounted movably on the base, to be displaced when the aim is. correct. The apparatus includes a readily adjustable target image reflector located in front of the target rifle or other aiming device and the target rifle is so mounted that its position may be varied horizontally and vertically while aiming. Any change in the position of the rifle is transmitted to the target displacing mechanism through mechanical interconnecting means. The target displacing mechanism is cocked or set automatically in conjunction with the cocking of the target rifle :able on the base very easily so as to allow it to be repositioned at will with a minimum of effort.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel target apparatus of the character described.

Another object is to provide a novel structure for mounting a target rifle or other aiming device on a target apparatus.

Another object is to provide novel means for mounting a target image reflector for a displaceable target.

Another object is to provide novel mechanism operably connected with the target rifle and resposive to firing of said rifle for causing displacement of the target, only if the aim is true.

Another object is to provide novel spring operated target displacement means and means to cushion the effective stroke of said displacement means.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus of the character described which is not expensive to cOIlStI'IJCt and assemble, is positive, simple and entirely automatic in operation and very eflicient in its use.

With these objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,-Which form a material part of this application and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a target apparatus embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the target displacement mechanism and target in side elevation. v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal verticalsectional .view

aatsas Patented May 13, 1958 of the front end portion of the target displacement mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevational view of the end of the target displacement mechanism, taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. r

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the mounted end of the target rifle, showing parts in elevation.

Similar' characters of reference indicate similar or identical parts throughout the specification and throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the structure as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the target apparatus includes a shallow mounting base 11 which may be substantially square in outline and includes a bottom wall 12, a top wall 13, and connecting side walls 14. One of the side walls 14 is formed with an opening (not shown) through which is extended a bracket 15 (Figs. 1 and 2) bifurcated at its outer end, as at 16, or otherwise formed to provide a vertical bearing for an upstanding post 17 having, secured firmly thereon, a pulley 18. The post 17 the intermeshed pinions 31-32. The free forward end.

constitutes a support for a target image mirror means 19.

The top wall 13 of the base 11 has a slot 21 therein coinciding with the length of the bracket 15, and a knob 22 carried on the innermost end of the bracket operates in the slot so as to facilitate sliding the bracket longitudinally inwardly and outwardly relative to the base for positioning the mirror means 19. If desired, suitable calibration markings 23 may be placed adjacent either of both longitudinal edges of the slot 21 to facilitate positioning of the mirror means. The knob 22 carries, within the base 11, a pulley 24 that has a belt 25 trained therearound, which belt is also trained over the pulley 18. Accordingly, rotation of the knob will impart rotation to the standard or post 17 thereby positioning the mirror means at a required angle for purposes to become apparent presently. The mirror means 19 is located in front of a target rifle 26, or other aiming device, and its purpose is to reflect an image of a target 27 also mounted in a novel manner on the base 11 adjacent to the end opposed to the end mounting the mirror means 19.

When the target apparatus is in use, the target rifle 26 is aimed at the image of the target in the mirror means 19. When the operator believes that his aim is true and that the image has been properly sighted, he fires the target rifle. Such firing sets in motion target mechanism mounted within the base and to be described presently which, if the aim is true, operates to displace the target 27.

The target displacement mechanism is partly contained in and partly mounted on a tubular body 28 pivotally mounted at one end on a vertical axis 29 within the base 11. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, there is a pinion 31 mounted on the mechanism axis 29, which pinion meshes at all times with a similar pinion 32 car ried firmly on the lower end of a sectional post 33 that extends upwardly through the top wall 13 of the base.

The specific construction of the post 33 will be described hereinafter, it being sufiicient for the present to observe that the post carries on its upper end the forward end of the target rifle 26. When thetarget rifle is swung in a horizontal arc while aiming at the image in the mirror means 19, the tar-get displacement mechanism is likewise swung through a horizontal are about its axis 29 through of said mechanism may-be supported, as at 34, on an arcuate track 35.

is operably conportion thereof, is adjustable in a vertical plane to compensate for vertical variations in the aim of the target rifle.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3 and 4,.the tubular body 28 is provided with an opening 37 in its top .Wfillto receive a sheathed cable 38, the sheathof which islconnected firmly to the inturned tongue 39 formed by striking the top wall opening 37. The cable 33 extends through the tongue 39 and carries adjacent its end a collar 41 having a radial arm 42 extending upwardly through a top wall slot 43. A spring 44, connected at one end to the cable 38 and at its other end to a transverse anchor pin 45, normally tends to pull the cable forwardly in the body 31. The other end of thecable 33 is threaded into the barrel of the target ritle (Fig. 7,) and its sheath is anchored to an end plug 46. The cable 38 extends into the barrel and is connected .to the rifle trigger mechanism 36 in such manner that when the rifle is cocked the cable 38 is drawn into the ride barrel against the tension of a spring ,47 therein. At the same time the other cable end (Fig. 4) including the collar 41, is pulled into the position substantially as shown in Fig. 4.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the radial arm 42 terminates in a target displacement plunger 48, integral therewith, which extends freely through an opening 49 in a vertical wall Sit-extending upwardly from the top face of the tubular body 28 and through a vertical slot 51 in a front wall projection 52. Vertically slidable on the front wall 52 is a plate 53 (Figs. 4 and 6) which has ahole 54 therein through which the free end of the plunger 48 is guided. The plate 53 may be slidably mounted in any suitable manner but, as shown, it has its longitudinal edges 55 folded over inwardly to provide inwardly opening channels to receive the edge margins of the front wall projection 52. The upper end of the slide plate 53 is connected toa cable 56 which has its sheath anchored on a forwardly directed overhang '7 integral with the vertical wall 50. The other end of the sheath is an.- chored, at 58 (Fig. 7) to one section of the post whereas the corresponding end of the cable 56 is anchored firmly to the rifle 26, as at 59,

The post 33 is sectional and it includes a section 33a having a hinge element 60 connected by a pint l to complemental hinge elements 62 on post section 33b. When the target rifle, which is mounted on the post Slictiou 33b, is moved in a vertical arc about the horizontal axis 61, the cable 56 is tensioned -orrelieved so as to raise or lower the slide plate 5 3 with or against assistance .of a spring 53a and correspondingly raise or lower the elevation of the guided free end of the target plunger 4?,

It should be quite apparent at this time that raising or lowering the aim of the rifle and moving said rifle through a horizontal are about itssupport post 33, results in corresponding movement of the t get displacement mechanism 28 and particularly the get; displacement plunger 48. Also obvious is the fact t-hat when the trigger 36 is actuated, as when firing the target displacement plunger 48 is pulled violently forwardly by the spring 44 and should the target 27 or a complemental portion thereof be in position to 'be struck by said plunger, a hit is evidenced by displacement of the target.

The target 27 consists of any suitably shaped body, which may be substantially square as shown, having a depending portion 63 formed or otherwise provided with a hook-like flange 64- adapted to be seated upon an arcuate rail 65 supported by and spaced above :the top wall 13 of the base 11. The wall 13 also has an .-211'c;uate slot 66 coincidental to the rail 65. This slot has, freely mounted therein for adjustment therealong a bracket 67 provided with a hanger hook 655 that loosely 'sttsllendsthe bracket in the slot 66 for vertical rocking. The bracket 67 normally remains in the vertical position shown and its upper extremity has side flanges -.69--between which rests the depending portion fi of the target 27...

The target 27 and its bracket 67 may be moved into any selected position along the length of the slot 66 and rail 65. The target rifle 26 is aimed at the image of the target in the mirror means 19 and if the aim is correc the plunger 48 will be in registering alignment with the lower or tail portion 71 of bracket 67. When the rifle is fired, the plunger 48 will strike the bracket tail portion 71, rocking the bracket forwardly so as to displace the target 27 rearwardly aboutits mounting on the rail 63. If the rifle 26 is aimed at the image improperly, the plunger l8 will not strike the target'bracket and no score will beevidenced. Recoil mechanism for the plunger is provided by means of a spring 72 which is arranged around the plunger between the vertical wall 50 and a collar 73 secured thereon.

As many possible embodiments may be made in the invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment herein set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying rawingsare to be interpreted as illustrative and not in ,a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what [claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a base including a top wall having a guide slot therein, a rail mounted above saidtop wall, said rail being coincidental to the slot, a .tiltable target mounted for manual positioning along said rail, a bracket extending through the slot, means connecting the target and bracket for movement along the rail and slot respectively in ,unison,.said means retaining the target in an upright position, target displacement mechanism pivotally mounted at one end within the base, a displacement plunger carried by the said mechanism, a vertically adjustable guide on the plunger carrying end of said mechanism, said plunger projecting through the said guide, mirrormeansto reflect an image of said target, an aiming device pivotally mounted on said base, means operably connecting the aiming device and the pivoted end of the target displacement mechanism for swinging said mechanism in a horizontal plane in one direction when the aiming device is swung in a horizontal plane in theopposite direction while aiming it at the image to point the plunger in the general direction of the bracket, meansoperableto raise and lower the adjustable guide to vary the effective elevation of the plunger relative to the bracket when the aiming device is tilted in a vertical plane, trigger mechanism in the aiming device, and means connecting said trigger mechanism with the plunger to actuate .the plunger to displace the bracket and permit :the target to .tilt out of upright position.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a base including a top wall having an arcuate guide slot therein, a rail mounted above said top .wall, said rail being coincidental to the slot, a target mounted for manual positioning along said rail and having a portiondepending into said slot, a bracket mounted in the slot, means operably connecting the target and bracket for movement along the rail and slot respectively in unison, said means retaining the target in a .normal position, target displacement mechanism pivotally mounted ,atone end. within the base, a displacement plunger on the :other ,end of said mechanism, mirror means on said base to refiectan image of said target, an aiming device pivotally mounted on said base, gear means operably connecting the aiming device and the pivoted end of the target displacement mechanism for moving said displacement mechanism in a horizontal arc in one direction when the aiming device is moved in a horizontal plane in an opposite direction while aiming it at the image to point the plunger in the general direction of the bracket, means operable to raise and lower the effective elevation of the plunger relative to the displacement mechanism and bracket when the aiming device is tilted in a vertical plane, trigger mechanism in the aimingudevice, :and means including acable connecting said trigger mechanism with the plunger to actuate the plunger when the tirgger is actuated, said actuated plunger striking the bracket to upset the target.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a base including a top wall having a guideway therein, a rail coincidental with and elevated above said guideway, a tiltable target mounted on said rail, a bracket extending through the guideway, means operably connecting the target and bracket so as to hold the target in an upright position, target displacement mechanism pivotally mounted at an end within the base, a displacement plunger on said mechanism, an aiming device pivotally and tiltably mounted on said base, mirror means to reflect an image of said target toward the aiming device, gear means operably connecting the aiming device and the target displacement mechanism for swinging the displacement mechanism in a horizontal are about its pivot in one direction when the aiming device is swung in a horizontal arc in an opposite direction while aiming it at the image to point the plunger in the general direction of the bracket, means operable to raise and lower the efiective elevation of the plunger independently of the displacement mechanism when the aiming device is tilted in a vertical plane, trigger mechanism in the aiming device, and means connecting said trigger mechanism with the plunger to actuate the plunger when the trigger is actuated.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a hollow base including a top wall having an arcuate guide slot therein, a rail mounted on and elevated above said top wall, said rail being coincidental to the slot, a target mounted for manual positioning along said rail, a bracket mounted in the slot, means opcrably connecting the target and bracket for movement along the rail and slot respectively in unison, elongated target displacement mechanism pivotally mounted at one end within the base, a displacement plunger at the other end of said mechanism, mirror means on the base to reflect an image of said target, said mirror means being rotatably and slidably adjustable, an aiming device pivotally and tiltably mounted on said base, gear means operably connecting the aiming device and the target displacement mechanism for swinging said mechanism in a horizontal are about its pivot in one direction when the aiming device is swung in a horizontal arc in an opposite direction while aiming it at the image to point the plunger in the general direction of the bracket, means operable to raise and lower the effective elevation of the plunger relative to the displacement mechanism when the aiming device is tilted in a vertical plane, trigger mechanism in the aiming device, and a cable connecting said trigger mechanism with the target displacement mechanism to actuate the plunger when the trigger is actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,189 Bremer Dec. 9, 1919 1,546,284 Helling July 14, 1925 1,743,201 .Fey Ian. 14, 1930 2,510,382 Dale June 6, 1950 2,680,620 Dale June 8, 1954 

